With less than two weeks until Election Day, Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign has made what critics call an unforced error on fracking.

Camila Thorndike, the Harris campaign’s new climate response director, said in a recent interview with Politico that voters concerned about climate change should not fear a Harris presidency.

“(Harris) does not encourage expansion (of fossil fuel drilling). He just said they are not going to ban fracking,” Thorndike said.

This appeared to take Harris back to her original and long-held position of opposing increased fossil fuel use. Harris famously promised to ban fracking during her run for the White House in 2020. Harris reversed course after becoming the Democratic presidential nominee, telling CNN in August, “I’m not going to ban fracking.”

After Thorndike’s comments caught the attention of the Trump campaign, Thorndike posted an updated statement on social media saying Harris “does not support banning fracking.” He echoed Harris’ comment in last month’s presidential debate that the tie-breaking vote on the Inflation Reduction Act “opened up new fracking contracts.”

Energy groups said Thorndike’s comment proved Harris cannot be trusted.

“Waiting! Change of plans as of early this morning,” the US Oil and Gas Association posted on social media. “As of this afternoon, Harris now supports fracking, a change of position from this morning where they opposed fracking. … This was a change from their position in July, where they supported fracking. … This was a change from their position in June, where they were against fracking. Got it? Got it. “

In Pennsylvania, where fracking is a major part of the state’s energy industry, the reaction was negative.

“The entire Harris campaign is a scam,” quipped David N. Taylor, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association.

Amanda Eversole, vice president of the American Petroleum Institute, said Harris’ fracking statement makes no sense.

“You can say, ‘I support fracking,’ and still not provide a new lease on land, federal waters, or federal lands that account for 25 percent of production,” he said.

The White House has approved three offshore oil and gas lease sales through 2029. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said these sales are so the department can begin supporting the offshore wind industry.

No offshore oil and gas leases have been approved this year. The White House had previously canceled all leases granted by the Trump administration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

President Biden announced a “temporary pause” on new liquid natural gas exports and export terminals in January. He cited climate change as the reason. A study by the National Association of Manufacturers said the LNG shutdown threatens 900,000 jobs. Months later, a federal judge overturned the pause.

“(The Harris administration) will be like the Biden administration, which is completely anti-domestic oil and gas and very combative against the industry,” said energy consultant Trisha Curtis of PetroNerds.

Despite administrative woes, the energy industry made the United States the world’s largest producer of crude oil last year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Russia ranked second, followed by Saudi Arabia.

The United States also led the world in natural gas production, as Europe turned away from Russian natural gas due to the war in Ukraine.

But Taylor said any gains the oil and gas industry has made during the Biden-Harris administration are “despite the administration’s actions, not because of the administration.”

Energy groups see natural gas as key to future economic growth. The Marcellus Shale Coalition analysis found that the sector generates $40 billion in economic activity in Pennsylvania and supports more than 123,000 jobs in 2022. These jobs paid an average of $97,482 annually.

At rallies in Pennsylvania, Donald Trump is constantly defending his oil and gas position in a bid to capture the state’s 19 Electoral College votes.

“On day one, I’m going to tell Pennsylvania energy workers to break, break, break and drill, drill, drill, baby, drill,” he said at a recent rally in Scranton. This message might help.

Polls show Trump leading Harris by about one point in Pennsylvania, according to RealClearPolitics’ polling average.

Curtis says the Harris campaign is experiencing an identity crisis as it tries to explain previous positions. “(Harris) basically became a centrist Republican overnight. … This is not real and it is not right.”

Taylor Millard writes about politics and public policy at InsideSources.com.